American Government Test 7

Mayflower Compact

Forerunner of the Constitution

Convention Method

used by Massachusetts

Articles of Confederation

First national constitution in America’s history

Confederacy

“A firm league of friendship.”

Land Ordinance of 1785

surveyed and sold land to western settlers

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

created governments for western territories (equal to other states)

Weaknesses

9 states had to approve decisions made

Shay’s Rebellion

a rebellion led by Dnaiel Shays as a result of a financial crisis for debt-ridden farmers in post- Revolution America

Mt. Vernon

George Washington’s home that held 2 conferences dealing with interstate commerce and navigation

Annapolis Convention

An attempt was made in 1786 to discuss a new Constitution

Washington and Ben Franklin

most famous delegates at the constitutional convention

James Madison

Father of the Constitution; promoted the “chosen plan” and helped explain the constitution to the people

PA

the site of the constitutional convention

Great Decision

early decision that created a new constitution instead of revising the old articles

Federal System

divided powers

Republican system

officials representing the people

Virginia Plan

proposed by Edmund Randolph and James Madison

Bicameral Legislature

Representation would be proportional (based on population) to each state

New Jersey Plan

proposed by William Patterson of New Jersey

Unicameral Legislature

representation would be equal

Connecticut Compromise

Proposed by Roger Sherman of Connecticut

The Upper House

would have equal representation

The Lower House

would be proportional to the population

Three-Fifths Compromise

3 of every 5 slaves living in a state would be counted towards representation

Federalist Papers

written mostly by Alexander Hamilton; collection of essays that simply explained the Constitution to Americans

New Hampshire

9th state to ratify in 1788

Rhode Island

last state to ratify in 1790

New Government

New York City

chosen the capital city

George Washington

first president in 1789

BIll of Rights

ratified in 1791

Representation

What issue caused conflict

Proportional

What would Bicameral Legislature representation be

Federalists

What people supported the constitution

Anti-Federalists

What people opposed the Constitution

Bill of RIghts

What did James Madison promise to add to the constitution

James Madison

Who promised to add the Bill of RIghts to the constitution

Delaware

What state was the first to ratify

Article VI

“Supreme Law of the Land”; the linchpin of the Constitution

Republic

form of government in which voters elect others to represent them in government

Federalism

division of powers between state and central governments

Delegated Powers

given to the central government

Reserved Powers

given to the states (residual powers)

Concurrent Powers

powers given to both the national and state governments (Example - Taxation)

Political Power is separated among 3 political institutions (branches)

Charles de Montesquieu

The Spirit of the Laws; “the greatest enemy to liberty is tyranny”

Legislative

makes the laws

Judicial

interprets laws according to the Constitution

Checks and Balances

a system where each branch of government exercises a measure of control over the other branches (“checks” them)

Articles I-III

Describe legislative, executive, and judicial branches

Article IV

description of federalism

Article V

Amending the Constitution (p. 68)

Article VI

“Supreme Law of the Land”

Article VII

Ratifying the Constitution

House of Representatives

there are 435 members in the house from 435 districts in America

Term

the length of time that a politician holds in office; a congressman's term is 2 years

Apportionment

the proportional distribution of Congressional seats in the states

Reapportionment

Each Congressman representations about 700,000 people

Gerrymandering

a district line being purposely drawn to benefit a specific political party

Senate

100 members, 2 from each state

17th Amendment

all Senators are elected at-large (by voters of their state)

President of the Senate

The constitutional leader of the Senate; only position in 2 branches of government

Floor Leaders

The Leader of each party in either house

Whips

2nd in command behind the floor leaders

Caucus

private meeting of political party members to decide on policy or to choose their party system (Seniority System)

Senate

What is the Upper House

House of Representatives

What is the Lower House

435

How many members are in the house

2 years

How long is a congressman's term

700,000

How many people does each Congressman represent

6

How many years does a Senator serve

General Election Day

All elections for the Senate and the House are held on what day

25

How old do you have to be to run for congress

30

How old do you have to be to run for Senate

Rick Scott and Ashley Moody

Who are Florida’s Senators

Majority party

A member of what usually becomes the speaker of the house

Mike Johnson

Who is the current Speaker of the House

Charles Grassley

Who is the current president pro temp

Majority

The political party that holds the most seats in either house is what

Minority

The party with fewer seats is what

Committees

Groups of Congressmen who work on bills related to their committees

Select

used for investigations

Joint

members of both houses work together on a bill/issue

Sergeant at Arms

chief protocol and law enforcement officer

Parliamentarian

advises house officers on rules

Chief Administrative Officer

maintains operational infrastructure of the house

Term

each term lasts 2 years and begins Jan. 3rd of each odd-numbered year

119th

Current Congress

20th Amendment

Originally, the session of Congress would last from Dec-March

Quorum

the required number needed for business to be done

27th Amendment

any salary changes that Congress makes will not start until the following term

Franking Privilege

All Congressional mail does not have postage charges

Congressional Immunity

A Congressman cannot be arrested or searched while they are in session

Censure

Officially condemning a Congressman for an action (legal, ethical, etc.)

Expulsion

a member of either house can be expelled for legal reasons with a two-thirds vote

Seniority system

Leadership is based on what system

Adjourn

What does it mean when Congress is not meeting in session

Simple majority

In Congress the quorum is what

Legislating

ability to make a law (most important responsibility)

Bill

a proposed new law; can be public (affects the entire nation) or private (affects a specific group)